The Riverview Hospital is a significant part of Coquitlam’s history. The mental health hospital was constructed on 1,000 acres of land within the unceded and ancestral territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwitlem) people. When it opened in 1913, it was known as the Essondale Branch of the Provincial Hospital for the Insane and consisted of a single asylum building with extensive grounds and a productive farm known as ƛ̓éxətəm (formerly Colony Farm). Over the years the hospital grew, eventually consisting of dozens of building and housing thousands of patients. In 1965, it was renamed the Riverview Hospital, which remained its name until it closed in 2012. In 2021, the Riverview lands were renamed səmiq̓wəʔelə, which translates to Place of the Great Blue Heron in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm.

Riverview Exhibition at the Coquitlam Public Library – Poirier Branch - On display until September 8

Seamstresses and Handicrafts – Stories Woven into Every Stitch

Riverview aimed to be self-sustaining, with seamstresses and residents in the occupational therapy programs making many of the hospital’s uniforms and clothing.

Since the hospital opened in 1913, it had a Sewing Department (also known before as the Tailoring Department). In the first year, female residents produced items like nurses’ aprons, caps, and other uniform pieces and also repaired hundreds of garments.

When the Occupational Therapy department was created in 1930, it focused on making practical items for the hospital. By 1950, the program expanded to include more creative crafts like weaving, rug hooking, stuffed toy making, dressmaking, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, tatting, painting, and papercrafts (Department of Provincial Secretary, Mental Health Services, Annual Report 1950, p. V 31). 

Some of the handicraft items stayed at the hospital, while others were entered in competitions at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, even winning awards. Items were also sold at hospital-run sales, helping raise funds for the hospital. For example, in 1953, according to the Hospital’s Annual Report, proceeds from the annual Christmas sale brought in $1,243.75.

Collecting History

The Riverview Hospital Artifact Collection was originally compiled by staff and former staff of the Riverview Hospital. A staff committee started collecting historical artifacts from the institution in the 1980s. The group was officially incorporated as the Riverview Hospital Historical Society in 1997. They collected equipment, furniture, objects and documents to preserve and share the story of the hospital, its staff and its patients.

When the hospital closed in 2012, the City became the custodians of a collection of artifacts collected by the Riverview Hospital Historical Society. This collection of artifacts is a valuable historical resource that documents a century of mental health services in Coquitlam.  Many of the historical documents and photographs were transferred to the City of Coquitlam Archives. Documents determined to be the property of the Provincial government were transferred to the Royal BC Museum. 

New Digital Access

Previously available only in PDF format, the Riverview collection is now accessible online through a new searchable online database . This digital platform features photographs, detailed descriptions of artifacts, and related documents from the City Archives. The new database follows best practices in collection management and enhances public access to this valuable set of historical records. 

The City also offers a loan program for select artifacts to institutions for educational and research purposes, on a case-by-case basis. Organizations, individual researchers or members of the public interested in seeing artifacts in person or organizing a loan are encouraged to fill out an online form at coquitlam.ca/RiverviewArtifactLoan. 

Additional Opportunities to Access the Collection

• Collecting Riverview: A visual history of photographs and objects (PDF): learn more about the fascinating history of the Riverview Hospital . This publication from the City of Coquitlam tells the story of Riverview through a selection of artifacts, photographs and documents.

• Riverview Hospital Artifact Collection: Catalogue of Artifacts (PDF): a complete list of artifacts from the Riverview Hospital Artifact Collection. This catalogue of artifacts, published by the City of Coquitlam, highlights some of the significant objects in the collection and shares the history of how the collection was created.